Some of the sick were picking at scraps that lay near them on the floor. The unnecessary ones had brought food around and just dropped it. Simon paused and did a quick head count of the unnecessary ones. The elderly, the young, the women too frail to wield a weapon…all were unnecessary.
Well, except maybe the women. They had their uses.
He made his way to where his dog food mattress sat and found it empty. He glanced around the store, looking for the female that he had claimed. He was almost wishing that he’d named her. It would make it easier to ask others where the hell she had gone.
Simon rounded the end of the aisle and caught Clyde’s attention. He waved him over. “Where’s the woman?”
Clyde cocked his head to the side and gave him a slight shake of his head. “Which one?”
“Mine,” Simon barked through gritted teeth.
Clyde’s brows knit in confusion. “We just returned. Don’t know.”
Simon growled under his breath and marched through the store, looking for her.
The sun is up. She must be inside. He rounded the last aisle and stared into the gloom. He pushed past a few small groups of Quee and made his way to the rear of the store. He pushed open the double doors and stared into the darkness.
Stepping inside, he let the double doors swing shut against his back and listened intently. If she were avoiding him, he could hear her breathing. Maybe even smell the nervous sweat from her.
Nothing.
He stepped deeper into the darkness and sniffed the air. The smell of mold and mildew nearly overpowered the stench of rotting vegetables and stale piss.
With a growl, Simon pushed his way back through the double doors and into the main section of the store. He went aisle by aisle again and finally paused near the front doors. Sunlight poured into the building and he kept just to the edge of the shadows.
He cocked his head and saw an elderly man around the corner of the main entrance and Simon snapped his fingers to get his attention. “You. Did you see any women leave after the hunters went out last night?”
The old man seemed to have to concentrate then slowly nodded. “Two went out. One returned.”
“Who came back?” Simon barked.
The old man raised a frail arm and pointed to the female. Simon squinted in the gloom of the interior and spotted the female he had used before they left to watch the Cagers. Her shirt still hung loosely over her shoulders as she picked at items on a shelf.
Simon slipped in next to her and grabbed her arm. “Where’s the other female?”
She turned hollow eyes to him and gave him a quizzical stare. “What female?”
Simon had to bite is tongue to keep from exploding. “The one who sleeps with me.”
She seemed confused for a moment then her eyes widened slightly. “Oh. Her.”
“Where is she?”
“Gone.”
Simon stared at her, the woman’s arm still in his grip. “Where?”
She continued to pick at the items with her other arm but turned to give him a blank stare. “Home.”
Simon released her arm and stepped back slightly. “Where?”
“Home.” She turned back to the food on the shelf and gently picked up a can, trying to decipher the picture on the front.
“She said that? Home?”
The woman nodded and dropped the can to the floor. She picked up another and studied the label.
Simon ground his teeth in frustration. “She was mine.” His voice was a hoarse whisper. “How dare she leave without asking.”
“She remembered.” The woman turned to him slowly. “Home.”
Simon swallowed hard and stared at the nearly bald headed woman. “She remembered?”
She nodded, a stray strand of hair dropping over her face. She turned back to the cans as if in a daze.
Simon felt his chest tightening and he glanced around the building. “What about you? Do you remember?” She turned her back to him and lifted two cans to her eyes. Simon reached out in frustration and spun her around. “Answer me!”
She stared at him wide eyed, shock painted across her pale features. “What?”
“Do you remember?” He shook her and clenched his jaw. “Do you remember home, too?”
She shook her head slightly, fear creeping into her very core. “N-no.”
Simon released her and stared at her trembling before him. “Good. You are mine now.” He pointed at her. “No other touches you but me.”
She nodded nervously and slowly reached for another can. “Eat?”
Simon stepped back and looked at the can in her hand. He gave her a slight nod of his head. “Eat. Then find me.”
He turned away from her and marched back to the front of the store. He stared through the large front windows and the early morning light. “Where did you go?” He muttered. He glanced back into the store at the Quee breaking into smaller groups, huddling in the shadows.
A frightening thought crossed his mind and he quickly pulled the top from the brown liquor, tilting the bottle. He swallowed far too much and winced at the pain in his throat.
Putting the cap back on, he glanced at the Quee once more. “How many more of you bastards might remember before we can kill the Cagers?”
Chapter 21
“This isn’t so bad.” Roger hung his arm out of the window as he drove slowly through the abandoned neighborhoods.
“Why are we going this way? The sporting goods store is on the other side of town.” Hatcher stared through the windshield with a bored expression.
“Just look around, man.” Roger pointed across the cab of the truck to the houses beyond. “All of these houses are empty.”
“And?” Hatcher yawned. “Safety in numbers, remember?”
“This will end eventually, my man.” Roger shot him a wide grin. “I’m hoping Candy and I can put down roots someplace nice. Like this.”
Hatcher sat up and studied him. “You’re serious?”
Roger smiled and nodded. “Hey, once this whole virus
